We’ve all heard the worst case scenarios. Teens addicted to drugs and alcohol. Homeless. Shattered. Dead. It is no wonder that it is easy to panic at the thought of your teen using. This is dangerous territory and can come with enormous and life-long consequences.

Yet it happens, and it’s important not to panic if you suspect that your teen is abusing drugs or alcohol. The good news is that you still have a tremendous influence on your teen (whether they know it or not). And you don’t have to walk through this alone. There are numerous resources available to you including the wisdom of parents who have walked this road before you. Read More

It can be difficult and frustrating for many parents to discipline their teenagers because these growing children are now young adults with more resources and capabilities. When children are younger, they may question rules and requests, but they accept the wisdom and authority of their parents. Teenagers, on the other hand, tend to challenge rules and routines, desire more freedom, sometimes shirk responsibility, and use logic better.

Sometimes it’s hard for parents to shift discipline strategies appropriately. How do you convince young adults that just because some of their friends are allowed to go to unsupervised parties until the wee hours of the morning, that it’s not their right to do so as well? How do you set boundaries that protect them while giving freedom to experience opportunities and possibilities that are good for their growth and maturation?

The following guidelines will help you develop a discipline strategy to help inspire your teenagers toward becoming responsible and compassionate adults:Read More

Raising responsible and compassionate adults is a huge, life impacting responsibility and a great privilege. Sometimes it feels like the job is way too difficult, and other times it’s the greatest joy imaginable.

I asked several parents who are on the other side of parenting (their children are adults now), for any insights they may have for raising responsible and compassionate adults. And this is what one mom wrote. I thought it was worth sharing so I asked for her permission to share it. Here it is…

Bullying has devastating effects on everyone. There’s nothing good about bullying, yet it exists and hurts everyone involved. The effects for both the bully and the bullied can be severe and last a lifetime.

It is a problem, no question. But, it can also be an opportunity to help your child learn how to deal with bullies for the rest of their life. When people think of bullying, they often think of school. However, bullies can be found in many other places, and bullies come in all ages.

Bosses or colleagues can be bullies. People in authority or everyday peers can bully. So if you look at it as equipping your child to deal with difficult people in life, it can be an opportunity to teach an important life-skill.

This is not to make light of bullying in any way. There are cases where bullies need to be held accountable and sometimes you may need to take immediate action to remove your child from harm and get professional help.

Teenagers feel tremendous pressure to fit in. When they feel they are different, and those feelings are reinforced by bullying, their image of themselves collapses and can lead to isolation, sadness, depression and even self-mutilation.Read More